TAC vs CWEN

For growth investors, Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) is the stronger pick with 4. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 5% for TransAlta Corporation (TAC). Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) offers the better valuation at 26. 9x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TransAlta Corporation (TAC) a "Buy" — based on 9 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) delivered a total return of +72. 5%, compared to +39. 8% for TransAlta Corporation (TAC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CWEN returned +237. 4% versus TAC's +171. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 54β versus TransAlta Corporation's 1. 21β — meaning TAC is approximately 124% more volatile than CWEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 172% versus 3% for TransAlta Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) is pulling ahead at 4. 2% versus -15. 5% for TransAlta Corporation (TAC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Clearway Energy, Inc. grew EPS 89. 3% year-over-year, compared to -206. 7% for TransAlta Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CWEN leads at 6. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 8% net margin versus -5. 7% for TransAlta Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CWEN leads at 12. 3% versus -9. 2% for TAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TAC leads at 32. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TAC: 25.

3% to $16. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) offers the highest yield at 7. 9%, versus 1. 4% for TransAlta Corporation (TAC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 54), 7. 9% yield, +237. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CWEN: +237. 4%, TAC: +171. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the null sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: TAC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CWEN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.